Fish-hook.



No. 814,624. PATBNTED MAR. 6, 1906. D. E. ROBINSON.

FISH HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.6, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FISH-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed March 6,1905. Serial No. 248,615.

To all whom t may concern:

B e it known that I, DANIEL E. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at -Otego, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Imto the dimensions of the hook and is soshapedas to provide two depending hook-Shanks, each one Set interlockedby a readily-Separable projection integrally formed with one of theShanks and cooperating with the remaining shank, the latter adjacent toAthe hook-terminals being shaped or struck out in reverse directions toposition the said terminalSin spaced relation. The hook-terminals arelaterally projected and inclined in reverse directions to render suchterminals more effective in attaching the fish when a strike is made anddefeat disengaging attempts on the part of the hooked fish.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hook embodying thefeatures of the invention and Shown closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe hook shown open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly-modifiedform of the hook in closed condition. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the modified form of the hook Shown open. Figs. 5 and 6 areelevations of the ltwo forms of hooks shown closed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thedifferent views.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate Shanks, which continue from terminalcoils of an intermediate connecting Spring-coil 3, primarily formed atthe center of a suitable length of resilient or spring wire, both Shanksat the point where they leave the terminal coils of the said spring-coil3 beingstruck inwardly, as at 4, to facilitate a close assemblage andefficient operation of the Shanks and hookterminals 5, forming a partthereof and also continuous therewith. The hook-terminals 5 areprojected outwardly in reverse positions, and the barbed extremities 6thereof are also deliected at reverse inclinations. This deiiection ofthe barbed extremities 6 of the hook-terminals 5 facilitates theSecurement of the hook-terminals in the mouth of a fish when a strike ismade and also gives a better clearance for the application of the baitand a retention of the said hook-terminals in close association when thehook is Set in a manner which will be hereinafter more particularlyreferred to.

The parts of the hook thus far described are features common to bothforms, and similar reference-numerals are employed to designatecorresponding structural features.

In the form ofthe device shown by Figs. l and 2 the Shanks l and 2adjacent to the points .where the hook-terminals 5 project therefrom areconstructed with reverselybent seats 7 to permit said portions of theShanks to closely interlock and bring the hook-terminals 5 in properjuxtaposition. When the Shanks l and 2 are drawn together, alocking bendor projection 8, formed with one of the Shanks, is caused to engage theouter portion of the opposite shank, as shown by Fig. 1, and when theShanks are in this relation and the hook-terminals closely diS- posedthe bait is applied and acts as a further means to prevent an accidentaldisengagement of the interlocked Shanks and separation of the terminals.

In the form of the device Shown by Figs. 3 and 4 the seats 7 areemployed, and in addition a locking bend or projection 9 is formed inone of the Shanks andis curved rearwardly to embrace the opposite shankwith Sufficient Stress to prevent accidental disengagement of the twoShanks, especially when the bait is applied-to the hook-terminals.

After the hook-terminals in either form of the device illustrated areassembled or drawn into close relation and the bait applied they 'willnot become separated until a strike iS made and the bait disengaged orpulled from the hook-terminals, and when Such operation ensues thehook-terminals become disengaged by the pressure exerted thereon, and arelease of the one Shank from the locking bend or projection of theopposite Shank ensues and permits the Spring-coil 3 to come into playand throw both Shanks and the hook-terminals thereof in an outwarddirection. When this latter movement of the Shanks and hook-terminalstakes place, the barbed extremities 6 of the Said terminals are forcedinto the up- IOO IIO

per and lower portions of the mouth of the fish, and by reason of thelateral deflection or reverse inclination of said barbed extremities itwill be impossible for the fish hooked to be lost or become disengagedfrom the improved device. The bends 8 and 9 have Such position withrespect to the Shanks of which they form a part that they will extendacross and lock the two shanks when the latter are in close relation, asshown by Figs. 1 and 3, the Said bends 8 and 9 having such angle thatthey will be effective in performing their intended function. When theShanks 1 and 2 are drawn together and the one hook-terminal iS extendedpast and over the other, the

, bends 8 and 9 prevent the shanks and their hook-terminals from flyingapart in view of the fact that the said shanks and hook-terminals aredrawn inwardly toward each other in reverse directions, the lockingeffect of the bends 8 and 9 being Sufficient to hold the hook-terminals5 in close assemblage, but do not have an extent or locking resistanceof such nature as to in any wise interfere with the sensitive releaseoperation of the hookterminals when the bait is struck by a fish. Thebends 7 of the form of the device shown by Figs. l and 2 are morepronounced or deeper than the bends 7 illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, thelatter bends being curved regularly or continued from thehook-terminals.

Another material advantage in this form of hook is that when set andbaited it cannot be released by a fish nibbling or pulling at the end ofthe bait, nor will it be possible for the bait to be lost or wasted, asthe greater portion thereof is between or securely held by thehook-terminals, and in order to obtain the same it is necessary for afish to make a full strike. Moreover, by the spaced relation of thehook-terminals and the outward inclination of the barbed extremitiesthereof a material saving in bait results, and the latter is protectedand cannot be torn or killed, especially in view of the fact that thehook-terminals do not touch each other. The hook can be readily set atnight without the use of a light and the hook-terminals in operation orafter a strike is made cannot fly out of the corners of the mouth of thefish, as quite frequently occurs in other spring-hook constructions, inview of the deflection of the barbed extremities hereinbefore Set forth.The resistance to the hook-terminals flying out of the corners of themouth of the fish after the strike is made will result in an engagementof the flesh of the fish both in the upper and under jaws. The improvedhook cannot readily become snagged, as the defiections of the barbedextremities project inwardly instead of outwardly when the fish-hook isset. The hook cannot be sprung or opened when casting the Same or inpulling it by ordinary movements through the water.

In releasing the hook-terimnals from the mouth of the fish after landingthe latter a very simple operation is pursued, it being understood thatone terminal be first disengaged and then the other, and following thisdisengagement of the hook-terminals from the mouth of the fish the hookas an entirety may be afterward quickly reset and baited for furthersimilar use.

By forming the improved hook of one piece of material throughout aconsiderable economy in the cost of manufacture results and a rapidityof formation may be pursued either by machinery or otherwise, and thoughthe improved hook is formed of Spring material it will have suchtenacity as to resist breakage thereof under ordinary circumstances.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed ish l. A fish-hookhaving shanks with hookterminals normally held apart by intermediateresilient means with which said shanks are continuous, one shank havingan angular locking projection integral therewith to engage the oppositeshank, the locking proj ection being located close to one of thehookterminals to permit a close assemblage of the shanks, and thehookterminals having barbed extremities.

2. A hook of the class set forth having shanks normally sprung outwardlyfrom each other, one of the Shanks having an angular locking projectionto extend across the other shank when both shanks are drawn into closerelation, and hook-terminals with laterallydeflected barbed extremitieswhich extend inwardly in reverse directions when the shanks are broughttogether and locked, the hook-shanks having seat-bends reverselyarranged and continuing into the hook-terminals.

3. A spring-hook having shanks with hookterminals, one of the shankshaving an angular locking projection forming a part thereof to extendacross and engage a portion of the opposite shank without surrounding orintertwisting with the latter to hold the hook-terminals in o erativejuxtaposition.

4. A hoo z of the class set forth, having normally separatedspring-shanks with hookterminals, the shanks adjacent to the terminalsbeing reversely struck out to form seats to permit the said shanks to bedrawn closely together to set the hook-terminals in close position tohold a bait thereon, one of the shanks close to its seat-bend having anangular locking projection to extend across the other shank above theposition of both seatbends of the two shanks.

5. A hook of the class set forth, having normally separated resilientshanks carrying hook-terminals with reversely-deflected barbedextremities, the one shank having a looped locking projection forming apart thereof and disposed at an angle to engage IIO the other shank tohold the hook-terminals in In testimony whereof I have hereunto setjuxtaposition When set7 the looking proj eomy hand in presence of twosubscribing Wit-A 1o tion extending across but not 1slilirrounding ornesses.

intertwisting the shank With W `oh it en agesl the Shanks and terminalsbeing releasged to DANIEL E' ROBNSON spring apart by a pressure exertedon the Witnesses:

barbed extremities in a direction transversely, M. A. BRoADFooT,

with respect to the hook-terminals. l FLORENCE B. BRoADFooT.

